Running in a new season

Friday

Sep 6, 2013 at 10:30 AM

Kirksville cross country enters 2013 with a new mix of runners

Ryan Ronan @RyanRonan_KDE

Starting 2013 the Kirksville cross country will be without Andrew Gordon for the first time in three years. This leaves plenty of room for young runners and up and coming athletes to step into new roles of leadership and to become the lead runner.

Stepping into some of those roles on the girls side will be senior Halle Dollins and sophomore Erica Wollmering.

“Erica and Halle both quailed for the state meet last year. We are looking for those two to step and be leaders by examples, and we will be looking for Halle to step up and be a leader,” said Kirksville head coach Geoff Hutton.

Dollins and Wollmering both qualified for the State Track and Field Championships last year as well and will be looked at to lead on and off the course.

“Erica started a training program over the summer that she didn’t have the summer before. She has come in ahead of pace from a year ago. We hope she comes into the first meet of the season, like she performed the third or fourth meet last season,” said Hutton.

Having so much success as just a freshman, Wollmering learned what it takes to compete at the varsity level.

“I learned that hard work really does pay off. I am now able to work through practice and know that it is going to pay off,” said Wollmering.

Wollmering has the goal of getting right back to where she was last season, and wants to improve on her performance when she gets to the state meet.

“I want to get back to the state meet like I did last year. I will do anything it takes to get back there. I want to run my best when I get there and know that I did my best,” said Wollmering.Dollins will be looked at lead on and off the course as the lone senior on the girls side.

“Halle had a very good summer. She is looking to qualify for the fourth time. She has had a very good cross country career. In her mind she knows what she wants to do and knows how to get it done,” said Hutton.

Replacing Gordon will be hard to do on the boys side, however he taught the younger kids what it takes to be success.

“He did a good job of showing the younger kids what we are all about, now we just have to mature into it,” said Hutton.

Looking to lead the boys side will be Koby Bird. Bird ran in the State Track and Field Championships in the spring, but until this season had been a member of the Kirksville soccer program.

“After having a successful track season last year, he saw the benefits of how cross country and track go together,” said Hutton.

Bird has the goal running in college and saw that he cross country will give him a better chance at achieving that.

“My personal goal is to get under 18 minutes by the end of the season. Running cross country will get me into better position come track and field season,” said Bird.

Soccer involves an incredible amount of running, however cross country is a different animal.“I wanted to focus more on running. I want to become more of an endurance athlete as well as getting faster. I feel like the transition has been fairly easy, it wasn’t huge, but it is different,” said Bird.

Kirksville doesn’t have a home meet this season, however they will open the season when they take part in the Chillicothe Meet on Tuesday.